The Westonarial Local Municipality is furious at the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) within the West Rand for marching to the municipal building to deliver a memorandum of demands that, according to them has already been discussed and apparently squashed.
Samwu’s demands range from a call for the immediate suspension of the municipal Manager, Thabo Ndlovu, the immediate suspension of all service delivery related contracts with non-municipal companies, and the immediate suspension of non-performing or unqualified heads of department and managers.
Samwu also demands that all workers receive housing subsidies, and that ‘illegal deductions’ from salaries allegedly made by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) be paid back to workers.
According to municipal spokesperson Kgabane Madiehe, the demands brought forth by SAMWU had already been withdrawn by its leaders.
“I wish to put it on record that the municipality together with Samwu and the Local Labour Forum had a meeting on 14 February where their demands were discussed and later withdrawn by Samwu itself.
“Therefore it is unfair and unreasonable that they would want to embark on a march to submit the same demands that they pulled back at a meeting where they were meant to be resolved.
“Out of courtesy, the municipal manager even wrote them a letter inviting them to another meeting which was supposed to be held on 26 February and they did not show up,” says Kgabane.
He says that this was to deliberate on issues initially raised.
“I have minutes of all the meetings that were held prior to this and information that was discussed.
“I also have in my possession a letter inviting them to another meeting which they did not show up to.
“From where I am standing, they do not have a leg to stand on,” says Kgabane.
He adds that nonetheless, the municipal management team has received their memorandum of demands and will further discuss the issues raised.
Madiehe has said that the municipality will respond within seven working days as stipulated in the memorandum.
